CACELA VELHA,CASTRO MARIM AND TRADITIONAL SWETS TASTING

This tour aims to visit locations significant for navigators, exploring ancient settlements that have left behind traditional activities still relevant today. Additionally, delving into the past centuries, traditional sweets of the Algarve continue to be one of the region’s main cultural highlights.

In the small village of Azinhal, we will visit a traditional sweet shop, including a tasting session. Cacela Velha is a village situated on a sandy elevation overlooking Ria Formosa and the sea, offering one of the most beautiful panoramas of the eastern Algarve. It served as a passage point for Greek and Phoenician navigators, and some authors suggest it was the ancient capital of Cúneos. Romans expanded it, and the Arabs added to its prestige.

On the right bank of the Guadiana River, the town of Castro Marim boasts numerous traces proving its occupation since ancient times. It was inhabited by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, and Arabs. Conquered from the Moors in 1242, it received a charter in 1277. Positioned near the river, the sea, the plains, and the mountains, and bordering Ayamonte, Castro Marim was a crucial military stronghold in the Algarve for centuries.

Around the castle, built by King Afonso III, you can admire an immense landscape of traditional salt pans. The connection of Castro Marim to salt production has a long history, making it almost impossible to determine the precise start date. The exploitation of this resource, alongside fishing and agriculture, is integral to the economy of the region, shaping the culture and lifestyle of the local population.

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